William z



W', Z` HAMPTON.

(No Modem FRUIT DRIRE.

l Patented Jan. 23, 1883. DmnllmUllH II'U..

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE0 WILLIAM Z. HAMPTON, O F GLEMMONSVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

FRUIT-DRlER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 271,065, dated January 23, 1883.

Application filed August 1, 1882. (No model.)

To all 'whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM Z. HAMPTON, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Glemnionsville, in the county of Davidson and State of North Carolina, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Driers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a fruit-drier with a series of revolving trays, which can be heated by means of a current of steam introduced at thebase of the drier; also, to provide novel means for passing the steam through the trays, so as to uniformly and effectively heat the saine; also, to provide means for collecting and returning the water ot' condensation to the boiler, and to provide certain improved details of construction, as hereinafter i'ully described, and illustrated in the annexed drawings, iu which- Figure l is-a side elevation of a drier constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a central vertical sec-tion, and Fig.3 a horizontal section on the line .r x.

The letter A indicates a hollow cylindrical standard, which is provided with a pali-shaped base, B, adapted to be secured to the floor or to any suitable stand or support, said base being represented as provided with a series of perforated lips, B', through which the fastening screws, nails, or other analogous securing devices can be passed. Upon this hollow7 standard are mounted two or more drying trays or pans, C, upon which the fruit to be dried is placed. These trays o'r pans consist each oi'a closed shallow casing provided at its center with a short sleeve, C', which tits upon the cylindrical standard and admits ofthe tray being revolved about the standard,for convenience in placing the fruitupon the trayor for receiving the fruit after it has been dried. The chamber within said tray is divided for a portion of its length by a longitudinal partition, D, arranged so as to leave a space, d, between its ends and the end walls of the chamber, whereby those portions ofthe chamber which are at the sides of said partition communicate with each other. This partition is located on one side ofthe sleeve G', and from the opposite side of said sleeve a short partition, E, extends radially to one of the side walls of the chamber. The sleeve is provided with several ports, F, formed through that portion of the sleeve which is within the chamber of the tray.

These ports admit ofthe inow of steam intovthe chamber and its outtlow therefrom, one ot' the said ports being arranged to open into the space at one side of the longitudinal partition and the remaining ports being arranged to open into the space at the opposite side of said partition, as indicated. In order to allow a current ot' steam to pass successively through the chambers of these paus or trays within the hollow standard, a succession of short steam-pipes, G, arranged alternately on opposite sides of the interior of therstandard, are provided. The standard is provided with ports g for the open ends of these pipes, and the latter are located so that the 'port at the upper terminal of one pipe shall be on a level with and diametrically opposite, or nearly so, to the port at the lower terminal of the next upper pipe in the series. In order to admit steam into the lowest one of these pipes G, I connect its lower terminal with a steam-pipe, H, leading to any suitable steam boiler or generator located within convenient proximity to the drier. It, now, the trays are turned about the standard, so ,as to bring two ot' the ports in each sleeve of the pan into register with two opposite ports, g, iu the standard, and steam from the boiler let into pipe H, the steam will pass 'from said pipe into the lowest one ofthe pipes G, and thence out into the first or lowest pan or tray. The steam which enters the chamber within the said tray will eirculatetlirough thesaine,and,passingaround the longitudinalpartition therein, willenter the next one ot' the pipes Gr, and thence pass up to the next tray. In this way the steam will be brought into contact withall of the inner wa'lls of the trays, so as to uniformly heat the same, and as many trays as desired can be heated by the current ot steam which passes up through these short pipes inclosed within the hollow standard.

By employing four ports for each sleeve a quarter of a revolution of the tray will bring two of the ports into register with two of the ports on the standard, or by turning the tray to a greater or less extent the steam can be cut IOO tray. The water thus discharged from the trays passes down the sleeves and standard and is collected in the pan-shaped base, from which,

` after it has risen to a certain height, it will enter a perforation in pipe H and How back into the boiler. Each tray is provided with the beveled or inclined sides l', so that fruit can be easily removed therefrom, and as many trays can be thus mounted on the standard as may be desired.

VWhat I claim isy 1. lIn a fruit-drier, the hereindesoribed tray, provided with a central perforated sleeve and formed with a chamber which is divided for a portion ofits length by a longitudinal partition substantially as described.

' 2. The combination of the hollow standard with the pipes G, located therein and alternately communicating,` with ports in opposite sides of the standard, and the trays O, each provided with a central perforated sleeve fitted to turn upon the standard, so as to bring its ports or perforations into register with the ports on the standard, substantially as described.

3. The combination, With the hollow standard provided with ports and inclosed steampipes, and the trays C, mounted upon said standards and'having outlets for the water of con- O standardismonnted,substantiallyasdescribed. 3 4. The combination, with the hollow standard A, ot' the steam-pipes Gr and H, the trays @,each having a perforated sleeve, C', and the partitions D and E, located in the chambers of 35 the trays, substantially as described.

In testimony Whereofl have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM z. HAMPTON. [n s.;

Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. BAILEY, CHAs. M. J oNns. 

